Chapter 100: Engagement Banquet – Marriage Certificate

Lan Mo led them toward the house. Lan Yuanzhi stood outside the courtyard gate, holding a string of firecrackers and looking around anxiously—they should be arriving any minute now!

Soon, a group of people came into view, and Lan Yuanzhi quickly struck a match to light the firecrackers.

Amidst the crackling noise, neighbors swarmed out to see what was happening.

Su Mei also rushed out from the kitchen, feeling a bit worried. Xiao Gu and the others had already arrived, so why wasn’t Momo back yet?

Just as she stepped outside, she saw her dear daughter had indeed run into the in-laws.

Lan Jingtian was in the yard helping set up tables and chairs. Since there was only one table at home, they had borrowed two more from the neighbors. As soon as the firecrackers went off, he quickly put down what he was doing and went out to greet the guests.

Before Lan Mo could even introduce them, Lan Jingtian and Lan Yuanzhi had already gathered around.

Lan Jingtian extended his hand to shake Gu Guozhong’s. “Grandfather in-law, hello, hello!”

“You must be Xiao Mo’s father, right? Hello!”

Lan Yuanzhi, acting like an old friend, pulled Gu Yannan toward the house. “Second Brother Gu, come on in and have a seat!”

Su Mei wiped her hands on her apron before reaching out to take Pan Huijuan’s hand, chatting warmly. “Hello, in-laws. You must be tired from the journey. Please come inside.”

She turned and called into the house, “Zhenzhen, the guests are here! Hurry and prepare some tea!”

Gu Yan’an was dumbfounded. Wasn’t today his engagement? Why was no one coming to greet him?

The Lan family’s attitude: You’re already one of us, no special treatment needed!

Lan Mo watched with an amused smile as Gu Yan’an stood there dumbly holding the bicycle. She walked over and said, “You should go in and sit too. I’ll park the bicycle.”

Gu Yan’an grinned. “Momo, let’s go in together in a moment. Just tell me where to park the bicycle, and I’ll take care of it.”

“Park it against the courtyard wall. You take the bag from the back seat yourself, and I’ll lock the bicycle.”

“Okay.”

After locking the bicycle, Gu Yan’an carried a large bag and followed behind Lan Mo.

Lan Guochang smiled and stood up when he saw Gu Yan’an and Lan Mo enter the room. “Xiao Gu, come over and sit!”

“Grandfather Lan, I’m going to Momo’s room first to try on the clothes she bought for me. I’ll come back later to have tea with you all.”

This rascal probably wants to sneak into Momo’s room and take liberties with her. Can’t let him get away with that.

Lan Yuanzhi joked, “I say, brother-in-law, why are you so shy about changing a jacket? Just change right here in front of us. I’ll help you judge how it looks.”

Gu Yannan walked over, tactfully adding, “Elder Brother, let me hold your jacket. You can change right here!”

Gu Yan’an glared at Gu Yannan. All he wanted was to exchange a few private words with Momo. Was that too much to ask? Why was everyone watching him so closely, guarding against him like he was some kind of pervert?

Gu Yan’an gently placed the large bag on the tea table. Lan Mo stepped forward, opened the bag, and rummaged around at the bottom, secretly retrieving the watch she had bought from her space, along with its box.

“Here, you should try on the watch first!”

Gu Yan’an happily took the watch box and pulled the watch out from inside.

Gu Yannan craned his neck to take a look. Good heavens! Wasn’t this the same brand of imported watch that Elder Brother had bought for Elder Sister-in-law before?

This men’s model was at least a hundred yuan more expensive than the women’s one. Future Elder Sister-in-law was really generous!

No wonder Elder Brother liked her so much. If he had someone like that, he’d like her too.

Pan Huijuan wore a smile at the corner of her mouth, a glint of light flashing in her eyes. Yan’an had truly found an excellent match.

That day, when she heard from Yannan that Yan’an had bought this girl a watch worth several hundred yuan, her heart ached terribly.

An imported watch was equivalent to buying several domestic watches. Her dear son was truly willing to spend! Her own Yanbei and Yanting still didn’t even have an ordinary watch!

Gu Yan’an first took off the old Haishi-brand watch and quickly stuffed it into his trouser pocket. Then, he put the imported watch Lan Mo had bought on his left wrist.

Lan Mo asked, “Yan’an, is the watch strap the right length? Does it need adjusting?”

Gu Yan’an smiled and raised his hand toward Lan Mo. “No need to adjust it. Look, it fits perfectly! This watch is really beautiful. Thank you, Momo!”

He couldn’t bear to buy such an expensive watch for himself. Momo was truly good to him.

Gu Yannan was so envious of his elder brother. Not only was she well-educated and beautiful, but she was also so good to his brother, even willing to buy such an expensive watch.

Were there any more fairies like this? Send one his way too!

“Brother, quickly take off that jacket you’re wearing and try on the wool coat Elder Sister-in-law bought.”

Gu Yan’an swiftly took off his jacket and shoved it into Gu Yannan’s hands. “Please help me hold this!”

Most of the wool coats sold in department stores were mid-length, but Lan Mo preferred long ones—not only did they look good, but they also covered the legs in winter.

Gu Yan’an was 1.83 meters tall, so Lan Mo had chosen a size 185 for him. When he put on the navy blue wool coat, it was as if a light shone on his handsome face.

Gu Yan’an stood tall and straight, his figure elegant like a walking clothes hanger, exuding an innate air of nobility that made it impossible to look away.

Indeed, when good-looking people dressed up, they became even more striking.

As soon as Gu Yan’an finished buttoning up the coat, Gu Yannan reached out and touched it. “Brother, this coat looks really good. Elder Sister-in-law has great taste!”

Pan Huijuan also smiled and said, “Xiao Mo has excellent taste. This color is both beautiful and stain-resistant.”

Gu Guozhong nodded in agreement. “Since Xiao Momo bought it for you, just wear it! No need to take it off.”

Lan Jingtian chimed in, “Our Momo has always had great taste. Yan’an looks especially sharp in this wool coat.

Since it looks so good, there’s no need to change. Just wear it like this! When the relatives arrive later, let them have a good look too.”

Lan Mo placed the pair of men’s leather shoes on the floor. “Try on the shoes too!”

Gu Yan’an raised his eyes, and their gazes met. He gave her a gentle smile, warm as a spring breeze.

Watching the two of them, everyone smiled knowingly…

Pan Huijuan walked over, took Lan Mo’s hand, and sat her down. She patted Lan Mo’s hand lightly—this little hand was so smooth.

“Xiao Mo, don’t worry about him. He’s a grown man; let him put them on himself!”

Seeing how much her future mother-in-law liked her Momo, Su Mei finally felt at ease. She hoped Momo would get along well with them after marrying into the family.

Noticing that the Lan family was all present and there were no outsiders around, Gu Guozhong called out, “Yannan, quickly take out the things from the bag.”

The ever-helpful Gu Yannan hurriedly took out a folded piece of red paper from the bag. On it was the marriage certificate handwritten by Gu Guozhong himself, and on the second page was a list of the bride price.

Lan Mo was taken aback—in this day and age, there were still people writing marriage contracts! Since there was already a marriage contract, shouldn’t the matchmaker come out to witness it?

She had thought that so-called engagements in this era simply involved the parents of both sides sitting down for a meal and discussing the bride price and dowry.

She never expected an engagement to be so serious and formal. If things didn’t work out between them in the end, would she have to go to their doorstep to break off the engagement?

Unfortunately, Director Qin, the nominal matchmaker, was still busy at the hospital at the moment. He probably wouldn’t arrive until after midnight.